Improvement in harness



l. ELLIS.

Harness.

-Patented Jan. 27, 1874.v

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IRA ELLIS, OF TYLER, TEXAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN HARNESS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 146,892, dated January 27, 1874, application tiled April 2, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IEA ELLIs, of Tyler, county of Smith, State of Texas, have invented certain Improvements in Harness for the Attachment of Horses to Carriages, of which the following is a specica-tion:

@My invention relates to that class of har ness for horses which enables the detachment of the horse therefrom instantaneously, and may, therefore, properly be termed safety-harness.77 I refer to two patents for improvements in such harness, granted to me under dates June 25, 1872, and September 2S, 1872, numbered 128,377 and 131,747.

The object of my present invention is to provide for certain improvements in said harness, which prolonged trials and experience have proved to be indispensable to their total efficiency and completeness. My invention consists, first, in the fastening of the shaft to the hames. To the ends ofthe shafts is fastened a hollow cap, in the end of which, in a square hole in the center, is inserted a square rod. Tow the interior end of this rod is fastened a shoulder or head, on both sides of which are top.'V It consists in pivoting to the top of one ofthe hames a curved connecting piece or lever, having two or more slots cut into the end ofthe same, which serve to receive and held a hook placed on the upper end of the other hame. To the top, and nearly in the center of this connecting piece or lever, is placed a horizontal headstallstrap holder, having a slot in each end for the ready fastening and'disengagement of the strap. My lnvention consists, thirdly, in the construction of 'a metallic breech-band with one or more catches in both ends, for the purpose of fastening the ends of the band to the shafts. On the top of the breeclrband, resting on the back of the horse, are fastened two rein-holdA ers, with spiral rings. My invention consists, fourthly, in supporting the shaft when the horse is to be attached or detached from the carriage. It consists in pivoting alever to a support placed underneath and in frontof the carriage, by aid of which the shaft is raised by the hand or foot, and thereby supported. To the front end of this lever is attached a rod or chain, connected to the crosspiece of the shafts; to the back part is hinged the part operated by the hand or foot in order to accommodate itself to the position of the shafts.

In order to more fully describe my invention, I refer to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification.

Figure I is a perspective view of a part of a carriage with a horse harnessed to the same, embodying my invention. Fig. II is a de tached side view of the shaft-fastener. Fig. III is a detached front view of the hames. Fig. IV is a side view of the shaft-sup porter. Fig. V is a side view of the breech-band.

A is a shaft, to the end of which is fastened, by screws a a., the cap B. C is a square rod, sliding back and forth in the square hole b in the end of the cap B, and having on its interior end a head or shoulder, c. D and E are two spiral springs, placed on each side of the shoulder c. F is a curved flat spring, pivoted at one end to the rod C, and at the other end fastened to the hames G. H is a ring for the passage of the reins d through the same. I is a connecting piece or lever, pivoted to the upper part of the hames G, having one or more slots, e e, cut into the end of the same, for holding the hook f of the hames J. g is a headstall-st-rap holder, with slots h h in both ends. K is the breech-band, having on both ends one or more catches, t' fi. jj are rein-holders, to which are attached the spiral rings m m, through which the reins are conducted. L is a lever, pivoted at u to the support M. O is the back part of this lever, with handle p and foot-rest q, and is pivoted to L at 1'.

Having thus described my invention, I desire to claim 1. The square rod C, with shoulder c, springs D and E, and spring F, in combination wit-h the shaft A, cap 1S, and humos G and J, sub- 3. The 1ev0rL,-\vth handle l) and foot-rastI stantally as and for tho purpose heroinbcfm'o q, and support M, in combination with the sot forth. shaft A, Substantially aS and for the purpose,

2. Connecting piece or lever I, with .slots a -St f 1th. Y

c. hook j", and headstall-stmp holder g, with IRA ELLIS.

slots h l1, in combina-tion with the humos G' Vitllesscs:

mld J, substantially' as and for the purpose. RICHARD GER-NER,

hereuberore setforth.. u FRANKUN BAmUT'l. 

